Don't forget what's at the heart ---
February is National Heart Month, and what better time to examine the heart of Chabad. As you may know already, (and a little redundancy in the right place doesn't hurt) the word “Chabad” is a Hebrew acronym for the three intellectual faculties of chochmah: wisdom; binah: comprehension; da’at: knowledge.
We recently gave a copy of Sue Fishkopp's book 'The Rebbe's Army' to someone to read. and we were promptly told that it should be 'required reading' for anyone coming through our doors. It's a very readable and highly recommended layman's examination of Chabad life in America.
Many people wonder what motivates and drives young people, such as Ettie and me, to leave family, friends, and a familiar way of life behind us, strike out and start life over, bringing the light and heart of Chabad to Florida, Alaska, or one of 75 countries in the world. As the author points out, this is not a part time job or a hobby -- this is our life, what we have chosen to do for a lifetime--we love it. The shluchim , or emissaries as we are known, are in it for the duration.
When the Rebbe and leader of the Chabad movement passed away in 1994, dubious bystanders waited for either some kind of power struggle for his position or the decline of the movement. They must have been disappointed that neither occurred, and today Chabad is stronger, larger, and just as committed.
If the ground isn't fertile and receptive, the seeds won't grow. We merely present our message and people like you relate to and embrace what is meaningful to your life.
As we approach our Tenth Anniversary celebration on February 24, we are gratified to note how many hearts, and lives, we seem to have touched. It is truly humbling to Ettie and me to have been welcomed and accepted as we began this new chapter of our lives. It is with great humility that we observe what we have accomplished, putting our hearts and souls behind every word and every action.
At a recent conference for Chabad-Lubavitch Women Emissaries the guest speaker, Chanie Lipskar of Bal Harbor, FL was relating how, when the Rebbe sent her and her husband on their mission many years ago, she was overwhelmed and responded that she wasn't really sure she was up to the challenge-- only 20 years old, so young, inexperienced, and alone. The Rebbe replied: "I am surely going with you, but it will be with joy."
Perhaps that is a large part of what keeps our commitment and devotion to you, our Naples Chabad family, afire.
http://www.chabadnaples.com/multimedia/media_cdo/aid/2471043/jewish/Keynote-Address-Chanie-Lipskar.htm